UAE slams "dangerous" Iran islands visit

The UAE has condemned as ''provocative" and "dangerous'' Iran’s announcement that it plans to establish a national security
and foreign affairs policy for a disputed group of islands in the Persian Gulf.

A committee of the Iranian Shura Council will conduct an
inspection tour of the three islands, Abu Musa, Greater
Tunbs and Lesser Tunbs, which Iran has occupied since the UK military
left the UAE in 1971.

The neighbouring Gulf states each lay claim to the unoccupied islands, which are considered of strategic importance because of their
location in the middle of the Gulf shipping lane.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the UAE Federal
National Council (FNC) said the Iranian trip violated UAE sovereignty and
contradicted efforts to find a peaceful settlement.

''The escalating measures, which Iran used to do, can
never alter the historic and legal facts that prove the islands are part and
parcel of the UAE territories,'' the statement said.

The FNC said it would refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice
if direct negotiation failed to see the islands returned to the UAE.

''While condemning the hostile measures, the FNC affirms
they run counter to the GCC peaceful stances and repeated calls and initiatives
the UAE has made to put an end to the Iranian occupation of its islands in
consistence with principles of the international law, historic and friendly
bonds and mutual interests.

“The Iranian actions also contravene an understanding
reached by the two countries to avoid escalation so as to clear the air for a
solution that enhances security and stability in the region and promotes
relations of good neighbourliness between countries.”

The FNC called on Iran to refrain from “unjustifiable provocative measures” and
to work towards strengthening confidence between countries in the Gulf region.

We all feel apprehensive about the problems in the Middle East & the Arabian Gulf but to bury ones head in the sand and behave as though we live in an ideal region devoid of serious problems is detrimental to all and it is only normal for the world to be suspicious and uneasy when dealing with people from countries under sanctions, nothing personal per se but this is how it is.
People of all walks of life and from all origins climb the ladder of success in the USA and are members of the Congress which consists of two Houses, the House of Representatives & the Senate. Iran has not been classified as a rogue country for no reasons. We all wish the best for every nation on this planet esp. Palestine Syria & Iran but it is high time Iran addresses a long list of concerns before welcoming the pariah nation back into the fold.

Posted by: Mike Jones
Saturday, 2 March 2013 10:23 AM[UAE]
- UK

@ Feras, unfortunately there has always been a game of politics where global natural resources have been involved. The term Divide et impera was coined by Rome, it means divide and conquer. The terms has never been truer than today, especially in the Moslem world. The regime in Iran is a nasty one but is it any better or worse than others? Having said this , do you really feel that what ever regime was in power, would give up sovereignty over the islands? As for Persian V Arabian, it has nothing to do with any government, it is the UN Agency that deals with names. As for a rouge State, not so long ago Saudi Arabia was one , just for stopping oil Shipments to USA! Rogue States come and go, regimes come and go, geo politics change depending on .....

@Salem, you seem to know so much about me. Still, the arguments I have raised, remain unanswered.
May be you can enlighten me about myself, what are my selfish ulterior motives?
Btw, I am not Iranian - and my glasses are not rose-tinted, they are just not dirty from intentional misconceptions.

@Joe, you claim you are not an Iranian but you sure seem overly obsessed with Iran. You remind me of an ancient Arabian proverb, 'in the eyes of its mother, the ape resembles a beautiful deer.' You need to educate yourself on the geo politics of the Arabian Gulf which is a political and economic powerhouse or the regional power rivalry or the increasing level of sectarian tension or the regional cold war between Iran and all its neighbors, etc. May be you conveniently see Iran through your own rose-tinted glasses for your own selfish ulterior motives that are evident for all to perceive. Now it is clear where your loyalties dwell.....

@Fajir, sadly you did not give us any rationale for your fear of Iranian people. But you may like to share your reasons with for example the US. Today's estimates are that about 1.5 mio Iranians live in the US. One of them even made it to Vice Major of Beverly Hills.
Imagine how naive the US have to be ... or could it be that they look at people in a slightly more differentiated way than you do?
May be you just paint the world in black and white?